Even for children, early treatment can be planned with clear aligners. This article shows a case where this was implemented in-house using the practice's own software.
Early aligner treatment in mixed dentition with in-house planning.
Clear Aligners for Children Too — A Modern Early Treatment Approach
Clear aligners are often thought of as a treatment for adults. In reality, they can also be a comfortable alternative to fixed braces or removable plastic appliances in early treatment for children. The underlying professional publication from our practice demonstrates this with a real case and describes the technical background of aligner treatment in childhood. Below, we explain the key points in accessible terms.
Why Aligners for Children Too?
Aligners were initially popular mainly with adults because their success depends on good cooperation — the aligners only work if worn consistently. However, experience now shows that many children also manage well with aligners. For the little ones, this means a nearly invisible, removable, and comfortable treatment instead of fixed braces. The aligners are simply removed for eating and toothbrushing — which significantly simplifies oral hygiene.1
A Clever Advantage in Detail
In crossbite correction, the dental arches often need to be temporarily “decoupled.” With fixed braces, this requires additional bite blocks. Aligners solve this more elegantly: their material thickness alone on the chewing surfaces slightly opens the bite2 – no additional bite blocks are needed.
A Treatment Example
The Initial Situation
An eight-year-old girl presented at our practice. One front tooth was in crossbite (reversed relation to the opposing tooth), the upper jaw was too narrow, and two posterior molars were rotated. This was a clear indication for early treatment — targeted correction in the mixed dentition.
The treatment process
Small, tooth-colored retention elements (attachments) were bonded to individual teeth to optimally transfer the forces of the aligners.3 After a digital scan, the treatment was planned on the computer and the aligners were fabricated in our in-house laboratory.4 The girl wore each aligner for about one week, approximately 22 hours a day, and then changed to the next one independently.
The Result
The anterior crossbite was corrected, the upper jaw widened, and the rotated teeth straightened — after a total treatment time of about 22 weeks, entirely without fixed braces. Afterward, the front teeth were in a functionally healthy relationship to each other.
What this case demonstrates
Early aligner treatment can offer children a comfortable alternative to fixed appliances5 – provided the treatment is carefully planned and the child wears the aligners reliably. Learn more about treatment with clear aligners on our dedicated page, and more about child-friendly treatment in the Orthodontics for Children and Adolescentssection. You can also read background information on crossbite in our article Recognizing and Treating Crossbite. A parent-friendly overview is provided in our article Can My Child Already Get Clear Aligners? To see how such treatment works in everyday life, visit our Case Example: Aligner Treatment in a Child.
Sources
- Abbate, G. M., Caria, M. P., Montanari, P., Mannu, C., Orrù, G., Caprioglio, A., & Levrini, L. (2015). Periodontal health in teenagers treated with removable aligners and fixed orthodontic appliances. Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics, 76(3), 240–250. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00056-015-0285-5
- Elkholy, F., & Lapatki, B. (2018). Recommendation of a novel film-thickness sequence, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.75 mm, for aligner systems. Journal of Aligner Orthodontics, 2(4), 295–304.
- Schupp, W., & Haubrich, J. (Hrsg.). (2015). Aligner Orthodontics. Quintessenz.
- Krey, K., et al. (2019). Complete digital in-office workflow for aligner treatment with a fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printer: Technical considerations and report of cases. Journal of Aligner Orthodontics, 3(3), 195–204.
- Azaripour, A., Weusmann, J., Mahmoodi, B., Peppas, D., Gerhold-Ay, A., Van Noorden, C. J. F., & Willershausen, B. (2015). Braces versus Invisalign®: Gingival parameters and patients’ satisfaction during treatment – a cross-sectional study. BMC Oral Health, 15, Artikel 69. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-015-0060-4
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